MoveOn UHP Rally Draws a Crowd

MoveOn held a rally outside UHP offices in Santa Ana, CA which filled the sidewalks to overflowing. And no UHP people came out to address the rally or talk about issues.  UHP is well known for being highly profitable while lavishing high salaries, bonuses and perks on employees while raising premiums, rescinding policies and denying care to insured people.

CSEA, California School Employees Association, had many members turn out.  Other rally members had difficulties obtaining coverage because of surviving cancer or other "pre-existing conditions."  Several members spoke about horror stories: 

•  A young mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and needed a double mastectomy to save her life. She had the surgery, then found out over $35,000 was not covered by insurance. She had to sell her house to pay the bill and explain to her young son why they were losing their home.
• A man put into a wheelchair by an accident talked about losing his employer coverage as a result of not being able to work and the two year battle to get Medicaid that followed.  He wants to get a van to regain his mobility, but he is being told to use the rapidly disappearing and often late paratransit system ACCESS.
• A retiree received notice his coverage is being changed and there is nothing he can do about it.  

At the rally, the need for a single payer system (the best choice) or a strong public option (second best choice) was loud and proud.  Members also want to go after the Blue Dog Democrats who claim to be Democrats, but won't vote like Democrats.  Blue Dog Democrats are being targeted by groups like MoveOn and Progressive Democrats of America (PDA).  These groups are recruiting candidates to run against Blue Dogs during the primaries.